which marks every production of the One Great Creator's hand."

It is just possible that somebody may be comforted with a theory which some surgeon quotes in a note, that the soul carries away with it out of the world one atom of matter which is the seed of the future body; and that these seminal matters, not being here, need not be included in our calculations about things material.

CHAPTER XXIV.

MECHANICS' INSTITUTIONS.-A VIRTUOUS DESCENT THE HIGHEST NOBILITY.-HOW TO REFORM THE WORLD.

GLANCE for a moment (says the editor of the Huddersfield Chronicle) at one of our educational institutions—not in a large town, though these are defective enough-but one situated in one of our smaller towns, intended to reach the labouring and mining population. What do we find? A small, dingy, uncomfortable room, for which no rent, or only a nominal rent, is paid; a few books and newspapers, and a total income of £20 or £30 per annum. Hated by the neighbouring farmers, who think their servants have already too much "learning," it owes its very existenceweak and flickering as it is-to a few shopkeepers or some of the better-instructed workmen. Now and then it manifests a spasm of vitality called a soiree, that is, a mélange of songs, and speeches (the former much more welcome than the latter) on "the pleasures and advantages of knowledge," by stars from neighbouring towns. The soiree over, the institution relapses into its ordinary languor and comparative inefficiency, when measured by the wants and requirements of the case. This is the way in which England supplies the defects of her children's early instruction.

Our Mechanics' Institutes ought to be rendered Educational Colleges for the People. They ought to be supplied with properly qualified and adequately paid teachers, and with the needful apparatus of instruction. Towards the expense, the pupils should be required to pay a reasonable fee, and the difference should not be defrayed wholly by the begging box, nor by any parliamentary grant, even if the self-supporting plan fails. We concur with Mr. E. Baines, that it is in their voluntary character that the life and power of these institutions consists. If they should ever accept pecuniary aid from Government, they will put themselves into bondage, as well as into the ruts of routine, which will make their future improvement hopeless.

Without presuming to be over-orthodox, or one of the elect, we hope we are of those who dare to think that children should be taught something more than themes of contentment in that state of life in which it has pleased GOD to place them,-obedience to authority, and respect to superiors.

"MIDDLE-CLASS EDUCATION.-The project for developing some kind of systematic education for the middle class, at present exists too much in the shape of a scheme to warrant any conclusive opinion. One advantage, or disadvantage, of the state in which the subject stands is, that it is discussed in many forms, and over a very wide field. The different suggesters may ultimately converge upon some general ideas, but at present they are wandering about in a vague condition of mind. The advantage of this state of the question is, that the discussion is all the freer and the more animated, and useful suggestions are brought out. The disadvantage is, that the ultimate result may be less shaped by those who are the best able to judge of requisites and to construct, than by the haphazards of accident, like the counsel taken at a public meeting. It would be desirable, if it were possible,

to fix upon some few principles towards which those engaged in this exceedingly divergent council might work.

"The actual state of the discussion may be very briefly summed up. While the public schools and the universities open their doors to the upper classes of society-while the national system and other systems of education have been established for the poorer classes— the middle class have been hitherto left to self-support, under circumstances not favourable to success. There is at once a want of unity in the general course of education, and a complete absence of satisfactory tests by which parents in the middle classes may estimate the competency of different schoolmasters, the suitableness of their schools, or the progress of the pupils. It may be said that the children of the middle classes are turned out into life without an ascertained education; so that the actual amount of instruction imparted, or of mental faculty called forth in the rising generation at any time, is a matter of chance, and an unknown quantity. To remedy this obvious defect in our educational system, has been the purpose of many contemporaneous plans. The Society of Arts-a dilettante society enjoying some slight and scarcely definable connection with the royal household and the Executive Government-has established examinations for pupils in London and different parts of the country; the examinations being designed principally to afford honorary tests for the proficiency attained by adults. In fact, it was an incentive afforded to the better working of mechanics' institutions. An agricultural society in the west of England has lately proposed a scheme of examinations, which are to take effect in this month for candidates presenting themselves from the neighbouring counties. The examinations are to go over the field of ordinary education, and the candidates are persons destined particularly for those classes of business that might be found in country towns, not much in agriculture. An active gentleman in this society is Mr. Thomas Dyke Acland. Meanwhile, the Rev. Frederick Temple, one of her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools, suggested to the Master of Pembroke College, Oxford, a scheme of examinations to be held under the University, professedly for the purpose of testing the proficiency of students. The plan is, to offer two examinations, one for boys of fifteen, the other for boys of seventeen or eighteen; every candidate to pass a preliminary examination in writing from dictation, arithmetic, parsing, and elementary geography, with religious knowledge, if the parents of the

candidates desire it; and subsequently, an examination in one of the four schools'-of English literature, of foreign languages with the elements of Latin, of mathematics, abstract and applied, or of physical science. The expenses to be met by small fees, amounting to five or ten shillings for each student. The examination might be either at Oxford or any large town inviting it. Such seems to be the general idea. Mr. Acland, Mr. Temple, and the Rev. H. W. Bellairs, another Inspector of Schools, have had conferences with the Hebdomadal Council of Oxford University. The subject has been mooted at both Universities, and we have before discussed cognate proposals in our columns. At those times they excited jealousy, because they were regarded as encroachments on the part of high Churchmen, Anglicans, or other promoters of University dictation. In the present day the fear is lest the Universities should be left behind in guiding the education of the classes to be educated; and this week the Hebdomadal Council of Oxford grapples with the subject in formal debate, Cambridge standing by to see how the discussion moves.

"We have already pointed out the dangers which beset the discussion. Dictation is out of the question. There is not a single scheme before the public which does not pay the utmost respect to the social circumstances and to the religious differences of the middle classes. Perhaps the most serious dangers that lie in the path of the reforms are two. First, immense facilities will be offered for humdrum gentlemen graduates, or speculators in educational employment, to set up schools, ostensibly in connection with the University examinations—a huge organised humbug. Secondly, the plan may be frustrated by rendering it too complicated. In order to extricate the country from fruitless discussion, the plan to be adopted must be as substantial, practical, and simple as possible; and of that last necessity Mr. Temple appears to be fully convinced. We have yet to see in a more direct form how the plan would call forth, with any sufficient promptitude, either an ascertained class of schoolmasters or schools of known fitness.-Spectator.

We do not object to Mechanics' and other Institutes; but the parasitical or clinging plan for the support of these institutions, is not desirable. Self-reliance is not, we humbly think, sufficiently considered: a continual depend